Thinking about how to decorate your HDB balcony, but worried it might infringe on HDB balcony rules?
In this article, we break down general HDB balcony rules, explain how you can manifest popular HDB balcony ideas, and share 14 HDB flats with balconies for sale right now that you can snag up!
If you’d like a visual explainer on popular HDB balcony ideas, watch our video guide below for a start.
HDB Balcony Ideas: How to Decorate Your HDB Balcony
HDB Balcony Rules: An Overview
If you just bought an HDB flat with a balcony and are having wild HDB balcony ideas, HDB balcony rules may come as a surprise to you.
What are HDB balcony rules? HDB has renovation guidelines which prohibit homeowners from certain types of HDB renovation work. HDB renovation guidelines apply not only to balconies but whole HDB flats too.
Some of these rules are in place for the safety of the building, while others ensure that HDB floorplans and infrastructure do not change drastically from owner to owner (i.e. that homeowners do not overhaul their HDB flats during their time of ownership).
Here are some HDB balcony rules you should take note of before renovating your balcony. These are not exhaustive:
- You cannot remove or modify balcony railings
- You cannot replace the balcony sliding door without HDB’s permission
- You cannot install windows, walls, full-height sliding doors, or structures to enclose your balcony
- You cannot install grills of unapproved design on your balcony without HDB’s permission
- You cannot paint the external wall or railing of your balcony in a different colour than it came in
Curious about the HDB balcony ideas you can manifest to transform your home? The following list is sure to inspire your inner interior designer, while 100% abiding by HDB balcony rules!
HDB Balcony Ideas: Decorate Your HDB Balcony
1. Creare an ‘Outdoor’ Play Area for Your Little Ones
Since COVID, parents have found the value of letting their children enjoy fresh air from the comfort of home. As such, many have found it a good idea to transform their balcony into a little play area. Some ideas to add to the play area include:
- A mini children’s tent filled with pillows
- An inflatable pool filled with sand for an outdoor playbox
- A child-sized table and chair set for them to doodle and draw on
Switch out the flooring by overlaying the area with artificial turf or rubber mats. Do remember to secure the zone with proper meshing too!
Only have fur kids? No problem. You can have climbing structures or build a play area for your pets to stay active indoors. Remember to mesh your windows too to keep them safe. If you don’t want to spend a bomb on pet furniture, try furnishing your house via affordable online marketplaces.
2. Grow Plants in Your HDB Balcony Garden
Those with green fingers can choose to grow their plants on their balcony. Having plants is a charming way to decorate your home!
If you get a lot of sun, try your hand at growing edibles such as chilli, eggplant, and various herbs. And when your plant collection starts getting out of hand, rearrange your space and install a vertical garden. Like the idea but have black thumbs? ‘Cheat’ by hanging up fake plants.
In this home, a raised platform was added to create a cosy balcony nook. The in-built drawers then serve as a clever home storage solution that also breaks up the living room and balcony areas. Adding slats to the faux ceiling is a smart way to allow for hanging plants.
3. Extend Your Living Room Area
If you like to entertain friends and family, consider your balcony as your living room 2.0. Your indoor and outdoor spaces should have complementary designs so that the two blend seamlessly together. Having balcony doors that open up all the way and using matching colour schemes and materials should do the trick.
Those who have purchased a BTO flat should know that there are rules surrounding balcony sliding doors. According to HDB, examples of disallowed door works include the “removal or replacement of sliding door different from the one originally provided at the balcony, where window installation is not allowed.”
That means you can’t replace the balcony sliding doors of a BTO flat anyhow. Check and follow the standard defect rectification process should you spot any errors with your flat.
You’ll want to have ample seating options for your guests. Bean bags, hammocks, daybeds, or a perimeter bench are good options to lend your balcony a casual air. Like in this Kim Tian Place home, rocking chairs are a fun seating alternative.
Source unique pieces by shopping at secondhand furniture stores for vintage pieces. Purchasing wicker or rattan furniture is another way to lend charm to your home.
4. Install a Bar Counter to Dine with a View
If you live on a high floor, you’ll probably have a fantastic city view. In that case, you may want to eat out on your balcony. We don’t know about you, but sipping on a glass of wine as you watch the sunset sounds like the perfect way to end the day.
Install a bar counter on balconies to maximise valuable floor space. Get decking, fix on window blinds, put in some chairs, and you’re good to go.
For those without an actual balcony, you could turn a portion of your living room into an indoor patio. Add in the bar counter and stools, and voila, balcony!
HDB Flats With Balconies for Sale in Singapore
| HDB flats with balconies for sale in Singapore | HDB flat types on PropertyGuru (accurate as of 13 July 2023) | Prices on PropertyGuru (accurate as of 13 July 2023) |
| 310B Punggol Walk | 3-room | $560,000 to $800,000 |
| 748C Bedok Reservoir Crescent | 2-room and 4-room | $570,000 to $1,050,000 |
| 684C Edgedale Plains | 3-room and 4-room | $628,000 to $810,000 |
| 138B Yuan Ching Road | 2-room and 3-room | $630,000 to $1,088,888 |
| 347A Yishun Avenue 11 | 3-room and 4-room | $750,000 to $798,000 |
| 475D Upper Serangoon Crescent | 3-room and 4-room | $775,000 to $950,000 |
| 519C Tampines Central 8 | 2-room | $780,000 |
| 544 Pasir Ris Street 51 | Executive apartment | $870,000 |
| 7 Boon Keng Road | 3-room | $1,000,000 to $1,230,000 |
| 275A Bishan Street 24 | 3-room | $1,100,000 to $1,400,000 |
| 138C Lorong 1A Toa Payoh | 3-room | $1,100,000 to $1,430,000 |
When you start financial planning to buy a property, remember these are HDB resale flats. Likely, they’ll cost more than BTO flats, and you might have to pay cash over valuation (COV).
For more options, browse all available HDB flats with balconies for sale in Singapore on PropertyGuru.
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